WORKLOAD ANALYSIS OF FEMALE BASKET WEAVERS FOR RECOMMENDING ERGONOMIC INTERVENTIONS

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Date
2018
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PROFESSOR JAYASHANKAR TELANGANA STATE AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Basket weaving is a hand-crafting method of creating woven baskets from natural grasses. Basket weavers have been making a variety of handmade baskets from a wide array of grass types for thousands of years. This is a type of unorganized small-scale industry. The basket weavers experience different type of health issues and workload issues, but these is neglected due to various reasons. Ergonomic risk factors also arise in the workers due to their working patterns and environment. Improper workstation design and insufficient workspace, unorganized materials system, poor management of space and hygiene for garbage and wash room are some other problems related to the workers and the occupation. Hence this study was taken up with the following objectives to get more insights related to the basket weaving occupation and also the basket weavers’ problems. The objectives are: To observe the existing work environment of female basket weavers, To examine the concerns and factors leading to work related health hazards, To assess the workload of female basket weavers, To analyse the existing tools and gadget used by them for ergonomic compatibility and To recommend suitable ergonomic interventions to reduce the workload and work related health hazards. The study was conducted using an exploratory and action research method. As a part of the study, 50 samples (women basket weavers) from twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad city were purposively selected and a survey was conducted to study their socio-economic status, existing conditions in their work environment, concerns and factors leading to work related health hazards and assess their work load during their work processes through structured interview schedule. Apart from this, an observational enquiry was conducted on a sub sample of 30 among the 50 Sample selected for the study. The observational enquiry was conducted to collect the information about the anthropometric measurement, hand grip strength, heart rate (before and after the work), palm mapping, body mapping and RULA score. The data collected was analysed by using frequency and percentages, correlations and other statistical analysis. After the survey was conducted, based on the results, suitable ergonomic recommendations to reduce their workload and work-related health hazards are given. The results showed that more than half of the respondents (52.00%) belonged to the age group of 21 - 30 years and next majority (26.00%) belonged to 31-40 years of age group. The years of experience was found to be above 20 years of experience in less than half i.e., (36.00%) and they belonged to the age group of 21-30 years and 10.00 per cent belonged to the age group of 31-40 years. As age and years of experience increased, the respondents became less involved in basket weaving activity. Most of the respondents started doing the basket weaving work from a very young age ignoring schooling and forgetting their childhood. This also may be a reason to the increased incidence of musculoskeletal disorders apart from the improper work postures adopted, improper tools, repetitive tasks involved in work, long working hours and work environment related problems. Majority (60.00%) of the respondents worked for more than 8 hours per day (in summer season). With relation to years of experience as the years of experience increased, they were getting more orders based on the contacts and skill they have and hence was forced to work for more time. Most of the respondents had medium and severe pain in the body parts like wrist, lower back, shoulder, upper arm etc., while using the tools. This may due to the heavy weight of the Knife (Kathi) while performing the activity and also due to the long working hours and repetitive tasks involved in the work. The health issues faced by majority of the respondents, which are mainly caused by the work process and environment, irrespective of age and years of experience are musculoskeletal problems, body weakness, headache, eye problems. All (100.00%) the respondents faced problems from surrounding work environment as is was not good and comfortable for working (due to noise and air pollution, high temperature as they worked outdoors mostly and also unhygienic conditions) and hence faced a lot of difficulties in working. As their socio-economic conditions are low, they were unable to construct a better and healthy working environment and hence continued to work in the same area. As there is limited space in and around their homes, they were also unable to shift their work to other comfortable work environments. This was causing extra burden on work efficiency and productivity, and also workers comfort and health. To analyse the Physiological workload used RULA scoring, palm map, body map, grip dynamometer and also the heart rate measurements (before and during the work), result concluded that postural load is heavy, and the postures used during the work have to be changed soon, continuous involvement in basket activity respondents get more body pain, the grip strength level increased the grip strength of the respondents decreased. Based on these problems, the recommendations suggested as a part of the study were Development of appropriate and affordable equipment like light weight tools like Knife (Kathi), hack saw as this may help to reduce the musculoskeletal disorders, enhance the work process and augment their income. The basket weavers also should avoid having long hours of work in a static posture while performing the basket weaving activity. Gaps or rest breaks should be taken in between the work. Body warm-ups may be useful to prevent the musculoskeletal disorders caused by prolonged working postures. Improved working environment, where all the basket weavers can cooperatively sit together and complete the work can also be helpful. Provision of low stools with back rest and arm rest may also be helpful. Their working area should be provided with some cost-effective screens, which can reduce the noise in the work environment and can regulate the temperature to a comfortable level of the worker. A collaborative approach which addresses the issues of workers in all the aspects of work, work process and work environment can help the basket weavers to work more efficiently, comfortably, productively and happily. This will automatically help in improving their work satisfaction levels and reduce their ergonomic and health issues. Finally, this would lead to an improved well-being of the basket weavers in terms of health and socio-economic status.
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D10,359
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